What Alex Mortensen said ahead of UAB's game against Samford

UAB head coach Alex Mortensen walked into his weekly press conference fresh off the practice field and in good spirits after Friday's 24-20 win over Navy — the Blazers' first American Conference victory.

Mortensen praised the team's effort in all three phases against a Navy team he considers well-coached and physical. He acknowledged areas that still need improvement, particularly on offense, but said what stood out most was how hard his players competed for four quarters.

"Believe me, I'm as competitive as anybody," Mortensen said. "I want to win every freaking game we play."

But he also stressed the bigger picture. Mortensen said his players sense they are only beginning to tap into what this team can become.

"I think they know that we kind of feel like we've just scratching the surface," Mortensen said. "There's so many of them that are just like hadn't played in a while, just weird circumstances in college, hadn't played much, and then now they're playing together for the first time."

UAB (2-2, 1-0 American) hosts Samford (1-3, 1-1 SoCon) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Protective Stadium on ESPN+. The game carries personal significance for Mortensen, who played quarterback at Samford in 2006 after transferring from Arkansas.

Full transcript

Opening statement:

Alex Mortensen: "All right. Guys, just got off the practice field, so I apologize for being a little bit late. But coming off of our Navy win Friday, it was a good game. Well, one, appreciate the fans. Their turnout I thought was really good and had really good energy. And we want to certainly keep building on that and keep getting people back to our games. Was really pleased with a lot of things about the way our players played. Most notably was just how hard they played. I thought they played really hard start to finish in all three phases.

"I think Navy is a good team. I mentioned it post-game and I mentioned it in all the talk leading up. I think Coach Newberry does an outstanding job and they've got some really good players and also players that have kind of made of the right stuff, work really hard obviously, but they play hard and they're physical and tough. And so for our guys to go out there and play the way they did for four quarters was really positive. And I thought there's some good complementary football where the offense took advantage of a turnover and capitalized on one. So seeing all three phases working together was really good. There's also a lot of areas we still need to improve. There's a lot of execution things, particularly on offense, and there's even things on defense, too. I think Coach Grantham would tell you that as well. A couple detail things here and there, but offensively there's still some work to be done and improvement to be made, but I thought there were a lot of real positive things, too.

"Anyway, moving on. We're playing Samford this week. I think one thing I'd like to point out about the Samford game — before I get into the game itself is that we are kind of partnered up with Smile a Mile this week, which is a great cause. They're right here in Birmingham and do a lot for families that are dealing with children that have cancer. And it's a really amazing cause and we're grateful to be a part of it and certainly want to promote what they do. We're going to do more things through the course of the week to promote them. But I would certainly — anyone that is hearing me talk now, look into what they do and see if it's something that you'd be interested in getting involved with as well. But more, the main thing is our players are going to partner up with kids there and engage with them. And so we're grateful to be a part of something that's bigger than us.

"Moving on to the Samford game. Obviously we're playing here at home in Birmingham. I think this is a really neat idea to have the two teams in Birmingham play each other. And I think it could be really good for the city. We again want to continue to promote people coming out to the game. I think it could be a great environment, get a lot of UAB and Samford people there and then just people that are Birmingham people to get to the Protective, games at 2:30.

"In terms of Samford, I think Coach Grass has done a really good job in his first year. We're both obviously in our first year. It's still very early for them as it is for us, but I think a couple things. Obviously coach has had a really good history and has had a great record through his career. So, a lot of respect for what he's done previously up to this. And just through recruiting and other things, I've gotten to know him a little bit prior to either one of us getting these two jobs and have come to like him and respect him.

"In terms of their team, I think they played really hard. Man, it really jumps out on tape. I think they have some good athletes and have good speed. So, it's clearly a very well-coached team. In terms of their staff, Mickey Conn does a really great job with their defense. And Coach Grass is an offensive guy by trade. Andrew Zow is there who has obviously had a coaching career going on in this state for some time before he joined the Clemson staff. And then I think a lot of people probably remember Andrew when he was a player, too, at Alabama.

"And then Paul Tyson is there. I would feel remiss if I didn't mention Paul. I had an opportunity to work with and coach Paul when he was at Alabama. We were there together and I have a lot of respect for Paul. I think Paul is a very bright young coach that also has a really bright future. He's very sharp. And so I know he's doing a great job there, too. And so anyway, we're excited about this game. They've got some good players and I think our guys are geared up for it. So, with that, any questions?"

On whether the passing game took a step forward against Navy:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, I think we did take a step forward, Steve. I do. I think statistically we finished 13-of-20. I think Ryder did, which is not still under where we want to be from a completion percentage and efficiency standpoint. But I do think there were some positives. We're still not protecting to the degree that we're capable, but I think if you're watching the game on TV or if you're in the stands, you probably saw us run out the back of the pocket a couple times and you're probably — I turned into a fan a couple times and was going, 'What are we doing?'

"But I'll say this, there were actually some positive strides in pass protection despite a couple of those plays. So that was good. And then I think the route detail and the quarterback timing and rhythm was good. But I have a ton — like I think Ryder has a really high ceiling. And he's doing a lot of things really well and I think we have the receivers to do it. I think we're very capable — tight ends, backs. And so I do think it was a step, but the exciting thing for us is like there's still a lot of steps in that that we can take and I think we continue to get a lot better. But yes, I do think we made a step forward."

On coaching Ryder Burton's scrambling — balancing his athleticism with avoiding big losses:

Alex Mortensen: "I think it is a juggling act. And look, Ryder's a good athlete and there's been times this year he's put us in positive situations by scrambling, and a lot of times that involves him scrambling forward. And there were, like I said, there were a couple times we went out the back. And so you don't want to totally take it away from him.

"I think going back to the ULM game, the big touchdown pass that we threw to take the lead was set up by a scramble that he had. So, you don't want to take that away from him completely. But I do think there are different kinds of scrambles. I think there's situational awareness — understanding, hey, if it's first and 10, if we have a relatively aggressive call on, protect yourself from the standpoint that you want to be able to play from as advantageous a down and distance as possible. And so having an idea of when to find the check down, when to throw it away, having a plan on those things.

"And Ryder is also still pretty young. I mean, this is like he's kind of on his first run of starting. And he did a lot of things in that game exceptionally well. And this is just one more thing that — I'm not alarmed. I think it's just one more, like it came up a couple times in the game. And I think he will — we've already talked, he's developing a strategy to deal with it."

On sustaining explosive plays after being more explosive against Navy:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, we do want to generate more explosive plays and I've talked about this a little bit before. I think if you were to maybe oversimplify it, they kind of come two ways. They come on routine plays where everyone does their job and sometimes a player makes an exceptional play beyond just even the design of the offense. And then I think sometimes you try to manufacture them through a play design, through a play call. And I think the best offenses I've been around get explosives both ways.

"And so, I say all that to say this for the players — so we have both, right? We have some things where we design chunk plays or aggressive play-action plays or things that we think can create explosives. But for the players, what we try to get them to get back to is just focusing on the technique involved, doing their job, not focused on trying to press for an explosive play. If we protect right, if we protect with the right technique inside out, if the quarterback puts his eyes in the right place and does his read right, if the receivers are spaced properly, the explosive plays will happen a lot of the time.

"Or in the running game, hey, if we get a hat on a hat and ID it properly and communicate properly, get to the second level — the runner like Bam presses the hole, has patience — the one that Bam had in the game, that created the explosive. So, I guess what I'm getting at is yes, it was great to see a few more. We want to continue to build on more, but at the same time, we're not going to ask the players to press for them so much. It's like, hey, if you just focus on what's positive of the explosive — doing your job at a high level — and we want to just keep their focus there."

On preparing for Samford's offense and quarterback Gabarri Johnson:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, look, they do a good job on offense. I talked about Coach Zow, Coach Grass, Paul Tyson being there, and I know they've got other good offensive coaches. And their quarterback Gabarri Johnson is a really good player and a good athlete and so they present some challenges.

"And it's a lot different than what we've been playing against. Like you go back, this last week we had to play Navy on a Friday, so it was a short week, but man, we had to go all in on getting ready for a pretty unique offense. And now this is something totally different and we've got to have different things prepared for Samford. So Samford presents a challenge and then I think the transition in and of itself presents a challenge, too."

On preparing for a player like Marlin Dean from an offensive perspective:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, a lot of times, people call them game wreckers or guys that have the ability to wreck a game. You're always looking for them early in the week and then as you set your plan, do you need to plan around them? So, it can really create a lot of constraints on a plan. Because if you don't plan for that person, it can kind of ruin your game.

"And I think what's unique is that there's — like Marlin's a really good player, but there's also some other really good pass rushers and other good D-linemen. And Coach Grantham is sophisticated enough, too — if you were to try to work around Marlin, then it's going to create some other issues. So yeah, I think anytime you play a player like that, it's definitely — I think the best word I could use is constraints. It might create constraints in protection or constraints in how you want to run the ball and it kind of can get you out of some things."

On what jumps out about Samford's defense:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, I mean, the first thing is just they look very well-coached. You see their stances, their alignments, you see the D-line strike off the ball and extend and use their hands. It feels like their recognition is really good — like their linebackers diagnose things quick. You can tell they're very dialed into whatever they're keying and adjust well to formation.

"So yeah, I think that's one of the biggest things. They just look well-coached and well-prepared. And they look like they play really hard, too. There's some scrap out there. And there's some good athletes — they have some good speed. So yeah, those are a number of things that jump out to me when I watch them."

On special teams and kicker Jonah Delange's performance this season:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, special teams is critically important, obviously for the creation of field position and then also can create points. And Jonah has been outstanding all year. I mean, I think that was the first one he's missed and we've asked him to kick quite a few. So Jonah's done a great job and has really helped us through the season.

"And we had guys like Draden Fullbright, I mean, guys flying down the field on special teams. Our gunners did a great job. So just the tenacity and intensity that we saw there is good and it's something that we want to — if anything — not settle at but keep ratcheting that up."

On the addition of punter Oliver Straw:

Alex Mortensen: "It was pretty late. It was kind of right down the stretch. But we just knew he was available and we really like Badger, too. And so it was a good opportunity to add a quality player to our roster and someone that happened to be available. And I think he helped us and I think both guys will be able to help us."

On playing Samford after spending time there as a player:

Alex Mortensen: "Yeah, I think the biggest thing is just the relationships. I wasn't even there a full 12 months. And it's kind of a unique situation that probably goes beyond the scope of what we'd want to talk about today. But the people — really neat people there, your teammates, coaching staff, classmates. Growing up in Georgia, I actually already knew quite a few people that were already there that had come over from the Atlanta area.

"And then the second thing was like, great school, great institution. And then like, found out, man, what a neat area — Homewood, Birmingham itself, greater Birmingham. And so when I had an opportunity to come back here, it was part of what probably laid the foundation of me being really excited to join UAB — just having that experience and exposure to being around Birmingham and understand what a neat place it is."

On the Navy win's impact on the program:

Alex Mortensen: "It's hard to measure. I mean, it was definitely really positive to win the game. And man, I don't want to sound like a robot, but there is kind of this thing of like, at some point wipe the scoreboard and say, like, how are we capable of playing and did we play to that capability, and then let's see where that gets us as it pertains to the scoreboard.

"And so — believe me, I'm as competitive as anybody. I want to win every freaking game we play. But it does have, I think, some positive ramifications for maybe the program and generate some excitement. But in terms of developing our team the way we need to, just like any other game, we do come back in and say, like, hey, what did we do well, reinforce it, what do we not do well. Because we want to keep pushing and getting better.

"And I think that's what our players are excited about. I think they know that we kind of feel like we've just scratching the surface. There's so many of them that are just like hadn't played in a while, just weird circumstances in college, hadn't played much, and then now they're playing together for the first time. So, I think they feel like their arc of improvement and development over the year, and the development of this team, could be really good. And so there's — like, I think we're pretty energized and fired up to put the work in to try to make that happen.

"And I think beyond our building, you hope that the people in Birmingham and the state of Alabama get excited about the way we play and can appreciate just the tenacity, the toughness, physicality, the kind of the never give up, never quit. You can see the guys playing together, playing for each other, encouragement. And I hope that endears them to our team and that they want to continue to get involved and continue to watch us."